Book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Creator: J.K. Rowling
Song: Within Temptation - Stand My Ground
Author: Cheshire
' I can see,
When you stay low, nothing happens.
Does it feel right?
Late at night,
Things I thought, I put behind me,
Haunt my mind.
I just know there's no escape now
Once it sets its eyes on you
But I won't run, have to stare it in the eye.
Stand my ground, I won't give it
No more denying, I got to face it
Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside
If I don't make it, someone else will stand my ground.
It's all around,
Getting stronger, coming closer,
Into my world.
(My world)
I can feel,
That it's time for me to face it.
Can't I take it?
Though this might just be the ending,
Of the life I held so dear.
But I won't run, there's no turning back from here.
Stand my ground, I won't give it
No more denying, I got to face it
Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside
If I don't make it, someone else will stand my ground.
All I know for sure is I'm trying,
I will always stand my ground.
Stand my ground, I won't give in,
(I won't give in)
I won't give up.
(I won't give up)
No more denying, I got to face it.
Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside.
If I don't make it, some else will.
Stand my ground, I won't give in,
No more denying, I got to face it.
Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside,
If I don't make it, someone else
Will stand my ground. '
"STAND MY GROUND"
Prologue: A Dire Loss
~ * July 31st, 1980 * ~
"Breathe, Evelina! Breathe!" A frantic Serverus Snape shouted as he held the hand of a pale blonde woman who had been crying at the pain between her legs as she sat in labor. "Please, just deep breaths." He tried to sooth, but could only watch as sweat dripped from her forehead and her breathing almost turning into hysterics. "Isn't there anything you can do?" He demanded over to a plump red haired woman who had brought over a bowl of hot water and pile of towels. "I'm doing my best." She said while glaring over at the tall Slytherin and rubbing the sweat off of her friend's forehead. "She is weak... Going into labor while in her condition can be dangerous, not only for her but the baby as well..." The red head explained and Severus did not like the answer he was given. "You have to help her." He said and she rolled her eyes, knowing quite well that she wanted to save her friend and the newborn. "Just move over and let me do what I can." She snapped and Severus gave a slight smirk at her attitude, stepping back on Evelina's left side so he could continue to sooth her while she tried to breath in and out calmly.
"Where is she?" Another voice called from out in the halls, a female voice trying to calm him as he hurried through the house. "Evie! Where is she-!" The owner of the voice appeared within the doorway and his glasses had almost fallen from his nose as he breathed heavily from his running. "James, calm yourself." Another red haired woman with a plump and round stomach said as she appeared at his side, rubbing his upper arm in a soothing manner. "What is he doing here?" James Potter snapped while glaring over at Severus who returned the gesture whole heartedly. "Now is not the time for you two to fight!" The older red head shouted and the younger sighed, nodding as she pulled James from the doorway. "Sorry, Molly. I'll make sure he stays calm." Molly Weasley nodded and rubbed the side of Evelina's face and noticed that she had become hotter than when she arrived. "Merlin she's having a fever too! Remus, Remus I need that medicine!" Quickly, a young sandy haired man hurried into the living room and set down many bottles and potions that could have been useful during the pregnancy. "How is she?" Remus Lupin asked Severus who took a moment to answer, his eyes not leaving his friend. "I can't answer that." He admitted with a slight snap and Lupin sighed, understanding.
"Where is Sirius?" James asked and his wife shrugged her shoulders gently, not knowing where her husband's best friend had been at the present moment. "I'm not sure, but he should be here soon." She said and he nodded with a heavy sigh, running his hand through his thick black hair as he feel into one of the chairs. "Sorry, Lily. I'm just a little stressed right now." He said and Lily Potter smiled, rubbing the side of his head gently. "I understand, that is your friend on that table." She said and he chuckled, turning his head so that he could see Lily's own plump belly, knowing that his own child would be born at any time. "Let's just hope it's not as crazy as Evie's." He said with a small smile and she giggled, nodding before the two snapped their heads over to Evelina who had just shrieked out in pain. "Evie!" James shouted while jumping up from the chair and Severus continued to stay at her side, rubbing her head and trying to help her continue breathing. "There is too much blood!" Molly told them as she pulled back from behind the material that blocked Evelina's lower half, her hands coated with blood as she tried to wash it all off. "She also has an infection... This is getting dangerous..."
Evelina's screams continued to echo through out the house and she opened up her eyes to find that Severus and James were both at her sides, their attention turned at Molly for the moment. "Ser... Severus...? James...?" She weakly called and the two turned down at the sound of her voice, their eyes full of worry but also content now that she had been able to talk to them. "Sssh, Evie, we're here." James said, gently pushing back her hair that stuck to her sweaty forehead while Severus stood silently, rubbing circles around the back of her palm. "Just continue to breath, you're doing great and the baby is almost out." He told her with a small smile and she returned the gesture, gasping in pain as she groaned while trying to push again at Molly's orders. "You have to push, Evelina! Push!" She shouted and the blonde continued to cry out as she gripped onto both Severus and James' hands while they tried to help her during the harsh pregnancy. "You're doing it, Evelina! One more push!" Molly coached and with a final scream and push, the sounds of a babies' cries were heard within the room and Evelina fell back against her make shift bed as Molly held up a blood coated baby with a sigh of relief. "It's a girl."
"A girl..." Severus muttered as he felt Evelina's grip starting to loosen on his hand now that the birth had been completed. 'A girl... This isn't going to be good...' He thought as Molly wrapped the baby within a blanket, turning over to Remus who was ready for a command. "Alert Dumbledore, the baby has been born." The sandy haired man nodded and prepared his wand so that he could cast his Patronus charm; after his silver wolf was sent through the house he turned back to the blonde ready to congratulate her on the delivery. "Congrat-" He wasn't able to finish for once he got one look at his blonde friend his eyes widened in shock and a slight fear. "E-Evie...?" He called and both Severus and James quickly glanced down at the blonde and noticed that she wasn't moving and her eyes were starting to lose their beautiful green color. "No... No, no, no! Evie! Evie! Stay with us!" James started to shout in a panic as he released her hand to gently cup the sides of her face. "Evie! Evie!" Severus felt his own grip start to loosen on her smaller hand as he stared at her with wide eyes, all the voices around him starting to slow down while their screams echoed the room.
"Move aside! Move!" Molly shouted to James who refused to let her go until the plump red head pushed him aside. "She's gone into Hypovolemic shock!" She cried as she moved from her face and back to her legs to try and stop the internal bleeding. "James! Severus! You need to try and snap her out of it! Hurry!" The two males quickly nodded and James started to gently slap the sides of her cheeks while Severus started dipping cloths into the warm water. "Come on, Evie. Wake up, wake up, Evie." The male Potter whispered as he took the cloth from Severus' hand to rub it against her forehead. "Please, wake up..." Lily herself felt tears prickle at the backs of her eyes and Remus wrapped his arm around her shoulders, doing his best to comfort the red head as he peered at Evelina in hope that they wouldn't lose her too during this war... "Molly, how is she?" He muttered, hoping that the answer wouldn't be devastating... "I'm doing my best, but it looks grim..." Molly admitted softly, Lily and Remus both looking at James who had tricks prickling the corners of his eyes. "Evie... Please..." He begged, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against her own, not carrying that other eyes were watching him. "Wake up..."
"James..." A small voice muttered, James' eyes shooting open to see Evelina staring back at him weakly, a small brightness returning to her eyes as sweat continued to drip from her forehead with labored breathing. "Evie..." He whispered with a smile, bringing his forehead to hers once again and letting out a deep breath. "You're awake..." A deep breath left Severus' lips as well, but not before he felt a slight tug on his hand, knowing who it was. With a surprised look at the blonde, he noticed that she had been looking at him from the corner of her eyes, a tear falling from the corner of his left one. "I'm sorry..." She whimpered, James quickly pushing back and staring at her with wide eyes, Severus doing the same at her apology. "I-I'm sorry..." She said again, this time her voice coming out in rasps as the brightness began to fade a second time. "No... No, no! Evie! Evie, stay with us!" The black haired man cried out, gently tugging her face forward so he could look her in the eyes, tears slowly starting to drip down his cheeks.
"Pro... Pro..." Evelina tried to get out, Severus' hand gripping tighter onto her hand as he quickly stood up from his stool, knocking it over in the process. "What, Evie? What?" He asked her, James continuing to keep a hold of her cheeks. "...Protect h-her..." She whispered as her eyes grew dull, the last bit of breath leaving her lips as her grip on Severus' hand slowly slacked. "Evie...?" James whispered, gently shaking the blonde female. "Come on, Evie... This isn't funny..." He said, Lily pressing her hand to her mouth and letting out a sob, Remus pulling her into his chest as he felt his own heart constricting in pain. "Evie, please... Wake up!" James cried, Molly slowly moving away from Evelina's legs and looking over at the three in sadness, wiping her hands of blood before moving over to James. "James... She's gone." She told him, jerking back when James' roughly shook her hand off his shoulder. "No... She's not gone..." He whispered, Lily pulling herself out of Remus' chest to stare over at her husband with her tear streaked face. "James..." The young red head started, jumping back along with Remus when the black haired man turning back to the group with a snarl and tears falling down his face. "She isn't dead! Evie can't die! She can't die on me!"
He shouted out in a broken voice, his voice cracking as more tears fell from his cheeks. "S-she can't..." A deep sigh left the older woman's lips as she motioned for both Remus and Lily to move over to him, which both obliged. "Evie... No, Evie..." He continued to say, Lily softly moving her husband away from the table and wrapping her arms around him, allowing him to let out another sob as he gripped onto his wife as a lifeline; more tears fall from Lily's own eyes as she looked over at her friend, lifeless and cold... "Evie..." She whispered as she watched Severus gently left the blonde from the table, his eyes starting to water as he pulled her head into his chest, his hair falling into his face as he pressed his chin a top her hair, missing the lavender scent that it used to carry. "Lily...? You alright, love?" James softly asked, lifting his head from his wife's shoulder when she started to breath heavily into his chest. "J-James... T-the baby..."
She started, James looking over and noticing that Molly had already wrapped her up in a blanket and was helping her fall asleep, Remus now standing opposite of Severus, tears falling down his face as he gently rubbed Evelina's cheek who still rested in the Slytherin's arms. "The baby is fine... She made it..." He mumbled sadly, wincing at the tight grip that Lily had given his upper arms. "Ouch! Lily, that hurt-" He started, not expecting his wife's next outburst. "N-no! Our baby, James! It's c-coming!" She almost shrieked, catching all attention in the room. "W-what?" James shouted out, quickly catching his wife when her knees had given out on her. "L-Lily are you sure?" James muttered, doing his best to try and balance his own emotions, but starting to fail miserably. "Yes, James I'm sure!" The red head snapped, groaning at the pain within her stomach before being gently tugged away by Molly, who had given the baby girl to Remus.
"This way, Lily, dear." Molly said, leading the Potter couple into the next room where the red head's cries could be heard, the Weasley female using her magic to help with the second pregnancy of the night, one which none had expected to happen so quickly. "Severus..." Remus started softly, turning to see the black haired man still holding Evelina in his arms, his face still hidden behind his hair. "Would you like to hold her...?" He offered, watching as Severus' face slowly lifted from Evelina's hair, his dark eyes falling to the pink bundle. "Here." Remus started, sitting on the table next to Evelina and slowly handing the baby to Severus, taking the blonde's shoulders and pulling her into his own arms, feeling his tears starting to return behind his eyes. "See that, Evie..." He started, two tears falling as he wrapped his arms around his friend, giving a soft yet sad smile over at Severus who carefully yet protectively held the baby in his arms. "She's beautiful... You're daughter..." He whispered, shutting his eyes as he gripped onto the blonde, Severus locking his eyes on the sleeping baby's face, his mind blocking out Lily's cries and the second cry that followed...
End of 'Prologue: 'A Dire Loss'
Next... 'Chapter One: 'Muggle Days'
Note: This chapter has been edited and updated since the original uploaded date of the old chapter one and two. I am deciding to start this story over with a different approach to the beginning, one that I had originally wanted to use but chose against. I hope that you enjoy the change and that it starts to make a bit more sense and lead into what the story will truly blossom in to. Thank you! Can not wait to hear your thoughts. Please comment and review!